Methodists helping young people make a difference

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The Methodist Church's One Programme is offering young people paid one-year placements at innovative church projects throughout Britain.

The One Programme is a paid year out for young people aged 16 to 23, giving them the chance to make a difference in their communities while receiving the living wage.

One Programme Participants (known as OPPs) are paid to work 15 hours a week - nine hours in a local church project and six hours for training and other national work.

Hayley Moss, Methodist Youth President, is pleased the Church has chosen to continue its investment in the One Programme.

"Young people get stuck in to an exciting local project and participate in an excellent training programme. Churches benefit from having an enthusiastic, dedicated young person involved in their work," she said.

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"I loved my year on The One Programme. It is a fantastic, challenging, worthwhile experience both for young people and their host projects. Everybody wins."

The OPPs are given the freedom to shape and develop their own unique project according to their personal skills and insights.

The opportunities range from working with young people directly affected by drug and alcohol problems to addressing some of the UK's most pressing social issues on a national scale.

Esther Salisbury worked last year at the Cross-Links project in Dover, alongside the youth worker, lay minister and volunteers to reach out to young people.

"The opportunity I have been given as an OPP has allowed me to not only influence the lives of other young people and children, but its challenges have greatly impacted the way I think and live" she said.

Her experience as an OPP has helped her "growing into a stronger disciple of God".

The posts are open to anyone who will be between the ages of 16 and 23 on 1 September 2013. Placements are open to people outside the Methodist Church.